Attachment for chairs



July 13, 1965 B. B. JUNKUNC 3,194,600

ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIRS Filed Aug. 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 {g a? jz July 13, 1965 B. B. JUNKUNC 3,

ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIRS Filed Aug. 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 13, 1965 B. B. JUNKUNC 3,194,600

AT I'ACHMENT FOR CHAIRS FiledAug. 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 g I 66 w 1 .56 M

United States Patent 3,194,600 ATTACHMENT FGR creams Bela B. Junkunc, Chicago, lll., assignor to Bela Seating Company, Inc, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 26, 1963, Ser. No. $14,595 10 Claims. (Cl. 297-460) This invention relates to a clamping attachment for chairs capable of supporting an arm rest or a tablet arm and also capable of securing adjacent chairs together as a unit.

In accordance with the present invention a clamping attachment is fabricated as a separate member and may be readily attached to or removed from conventional chairs of either the folding or straight type without the use of tools. The chairs may be used separately as individual chairs, or a row of any desired number of chairs may be clamped together as a unit by use of clamping attachments embodying the present invention. The clamping attachment may be used to secure the chairs together and, in addition, they may be used to firmly support an accessory arm.

A single clamping attachment is used to support an arm rest or a tablet arm on a chair at one end of a row of chairs, or on a chair used as a separate unit. The double clamping attachment is used to clamp adjacent chairs together, and may provide an arm rest, or may support either a single or a double arm rest or tablet arm between adjacent chairs. The arm rest or tablet arm may be rigidly secured to the clamping attachment, or it may be pivoted thereto so that it can be folded relative to the chair.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention and a structure by means of which the above and other advantages of the invention are attained is described in detail in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of a chair showing a single clamping attachment embodying the invention secured to one side of the chair and supporting a tablet arm thereon;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a single clamping attachment and a fragmentary portion of a chair before the clamping attachment is secured to the chair;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of two chairs secured together by a double clamping attachment embodying the invention, and also showing a single clamping attachment secured to one of the chairs;

FIG 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the double clamping attachment with a tablet arm supported thereon;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a double clamping attachment and fragmentary portions of two adjacent chairs before the chairs are secured to the clamping attachment;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, showing a single clamping attachment secured to a chair having legs of square cross sections;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view, taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of chair structure having a square cross section and a single "ice clamping attachment in separate position before the clamping attachment is secured to the chair structure;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view showing two chairs having legs of square cross section held together by a double clamping attachment and also showing a single clamping attachment secured to one of the chairs;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary front elevational view, showing a double clamping attachment secured to two chair legs of square cross section; and

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but showing a double clamping attachment for securing parts of two chairs.

A single clamping attachment 10 embodying the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings. Although the chair shown in these figures is a folding chair, it will be understood that the clamping attachment may be used with a straight (non-folding) chair. The chair 11 is a conventional folding chair comprising an inverted U- shaped tubular member 12 having an upper section 13 extending approximately vertical and supporting a back rest 14 to form the back of the chair. The free ends 15 and 16 of the back extend forwardly to form the front legs of the chair. A shorter inverted U-shaped member 17 has two rear legs 1% and 19 pivoted to the legs 15 and 16, respectively, as indicated at 29 and 21. The top of U-shaped member 17 cooperates with a cross brace between legs 15 and 15 to support a chair seat 22. A cross brace 23 is secured at its opposite ends to the front legs 15 and 16 below the seat 22.

The clamping attachment 10, as shown best in FIG. 6, comprises a tubular bar bent to provide two sections 24 and 25 parallel to section 13 and leg 15, respectively, of the tubular member 12, and a third section 26 extending at right angles to the upper end of section 24. A tablet arm 27 of any desired size and shape may be rigidly or pivotally secured to the section 26. A member 28, having oppositely directed channel-shaped clamps 29 and 30 extending from its opposite ends, is attached to the section 24 with the clamps in substantial vertical alignment, the longitudinal axis of each of the clamps 29 and 30 extending parallel to the section 24. Since the chair parts to which the clamps 29 and 30 are secured have a circular cross section, these clamps have a cross section to conform, but it will be understood that the chair parts may have a different cross sectional configuration. The member 28 is preferably welded to section 24, but may be attached thereto in any suitable manner. It may be provided with resilient flanges so that it can be snapped into place on the section 24, or may be slidably mounted thereon. If desired, the clamps 29 and 30 may be separate members, each secured to section 24. The lower edge of clamp 29 is spaced from the upper edge of clamp 35% a distance greater than the diameter of the tubular member 12. A member 31 having a channel-shaped clamp 32 extending from one end thereof is rigidly secured at its other end :to the lower end of section 25. T he member 31 extends at right angles to the section 25, and the concave surface of its clamp 32 faces downwardly in the position in which the member 31 is secured to section 25.

The assembly of the clamping attachment and chair is very simple. With the chair leg 15 in the position of FIG. 6, the clamping attachment 10 is tilted forwardly to position the section 25 forwardly of the leg 15 while spaced laterally from said leg. The clamping attachment is then moved adjacent the tubular member 12 with the member 28 juxtaposed against the upper section 13 of the tubular member 12 with the section 13 extending between the clamps 29 and 30. The clamp 29 is rearward of sections 24, 25 and 26, respectively.

3 of section 13 and the clampflt) is forward of the section 13. The vertical position of the clamping attachment is adjusted so that the lower edge of member 31 is above the horizontal plane of :the cross brace 23. The clamping attachment 10 is then moved pivotally to engage the concave surface of clamp 23 with the rear surface of section 13 and the concave surface of clamp 30 with the frontsurface of section 13. The member 31 engages the front surface of leg above the cross brace 23. The clamping attachment 10 is then pushed downwardly until the clamp 32 engages the cross brace 23. The clamping the assembly steps described above.

A double clamping attachment 33 is shown in FIGS.

' 7 to 9. The chairs used with the double'clamping a tachment are the same as that used with the single clamping attachment, and the description thereon will not be repeated. 7

The clamping attachment 33, as shown in FIG. 9, is similar to clamping attachment 10, and is bent to provide sections 34, 35 and 36, which are essentially duplicates In the double clamping attachment a member 37 is attached to section 34 :in the same manner as the member 28 is attached to the section 24 of the single clamping attachment. The member 37 has channel-shaped clamps 38 and 39, similar to clamps 29and 30, respectively, on both sides of section 34. The member 31 is replaced by a member at having a channel-shaped clamp 41, similar to clamp 32, on each side of section 35 at its lower end. As in the embodiment previously described, the clamps 38 and 39 may be separate members, each secured to section 34. A tablet 7 arm 27 may be secured to section 36 in any desired mannor, as described abovein connection with section 26 of the single clamping attachment 10.

When two chairs are to be secured together by a clamping attachment 33, the attachment is held with section 35 forwardly of the chair legs 15 and 16, and both chairs are moved to position section 13 of one chair between the clamps 38 and 39 on one side of section 34, and the section 13 of the other chair between the clamps 3S and 39 on the other side of section 34. The sections 13 engage opp'osite sides of section 34. The clamping attachment is then lifted far enough for the lower edge of member 46 to clear the upper edge of cross'braces 23.

The clamping attachment is then moved pivotally to engage the concave surface of each clamp 38 with the rear surface of section 13 of one of the chairs, and the concave surface of each clamp 39 with the front surface of section 13 of one of the chairs. In this position the member 46 is higher than the cross braces 23. The clamping attachment 33 is then pushed downwardly until each clamp 41 engages the cross brace 23 of one of the chairs. The clamping attachment 33 is then interlocked with the leg 15 of one chair and the leg 16 of the adjacent chair. Neither chair can be separated from the other except by .reversing the assembly steps described above, or by moving one chair downwardly relative to'the clamping attachment, and then turning said chair at an angle so that 1 its section 13 can be moved laterally out of the space between clamps 38 and 39.

InFIGS. 10 to 14 I have shown another embodiment of a single clamping attachment 42 for use with chairs 43 having frame members 44 of square cross section. In

.these figures the chair shown is straight, but it will'be understood that this clamping attachment may also be a .chair part to which they are to be secured.

' The chair 4-3 comprises two inverted'U-shaped frame "horizontal section '76 and a vertical section '71.

members 44 tied together by cross braces 45 to form a base. Other braces 46 provide added rigidity for the base. Each frame member has a front leg 47, a rear leg i and a horizontal section 4-9. A fiat plate 56, secured to the underside of section 49 by screws 51, as shown in FIG. 14, supports a seatpad'fil' A back 53 is secured to the base in any suitable manner.

A single clamping attachment 54 as shown in FIG. 13, comprises an inverted L-shaped'bar 55 bent at 56 to form a vertical section 57 and a horizontal section'58. The angle between sections 57 and 58 conforms to the angle between the rear leg 48 and the horizontal section 49 of the chair. A second inverted L-shaped bar 59 has a vertical section 60 welded to member 55 at. the bend 56 and a horizontal section 61 spaced, above and in the same vertical plane as the horizontal section 58. A tablet arm 62 may be fixed or pivotally'secured to horizontal section 61 in any suitable manner.

A member 63 having oppositely disposed channelshaped clamps 64, and extending from its opposite ends is attached to one side of vertical section 57 in any suitable manner, as described above in reference to the member 28. The clamps 64 and 65 are spaced a distance greater than the Width of section 49 and are'in vertical alignment the longitudinal axis of each of the clamps 64 and 65 extending parallel to the vertical section 57. As in the other embodiments, clamps 64 and 65 may be separate members secured separately to the section 57. The channel-shaped clamps'fit snugly around three sides of the rear leg 4-8 of the chair. The upperclamp 64 has its open side facing in the direction opposite the direction in which the section 58 extends from section 57.; A channel-shaped clamp 66 comprises an angle plate having one section secured to the top surface of section 58 and a flange 67 depending therefrom and spaced from the adjacent side of the section 58 a distance. equal to the width of section 49 of the frame member 44. The free edge of flange 6'7 is flared outwardly, as shown at 68, to

facilitate attachment to section 4'9. 7

The clamping attachment 54is attached to a chair 43 by holding the clamping attachment at an angle with clamp 65 rearwardly of leg 43' and clamp 64 forward of said leg. The side of section 57 to which the clamps are secured is juxtaposed against the outer surface of leg 48. The clamping attachment is then turned in a vertical plane to move the upper clamp 64 into engagement with the frontsurface of leg :8 and the lowerclamp 65 into engagement with the rear surface of leg 48. The original position in which the clamping attachment is' held is such that when the clamps embrace the leg 48, the flange 67 of clamp 66 is above the horizontal plane of section 49. The clamping attachment is then pushed downwardly to engage the clamp 66 with section 49 to interlock the clamping attachment and the chair. The clamping attachment cannot be removed from the chair except by reversing the assembly steps described above. 7

The double clamping attachment 69,shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, comprises an inverted L-shaped bar having a As in each of other embodiments,the angle between sections 76 and i1 conforms to the angle between the chair parts to which the clamps are to be secured. As shown in FIG. 17, the member 63 .is replaced by a similar member '72 having channel-shaped clamps 73 and 7d projecting from each side thereof. The clamp, 66 is replaced by a channel-shapedcl amp 75 having flanges 76 and 77 spaced from opposite sides ofsection d3 so that they may engage -sections :9 of two chairs spaced side by side. The double clamping attachment 6? is secured to two' chairs simultaneously by juxtaposing a rear leg 48 of two chairs chair.

Although I have described a few preferred embodiments of the invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of construction may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described.

I claim:

1. A clamping attachment for chairs, said attachment comprising a rod, a pair of oppositely disposed clamps attached to said rod, the longitudinal axis of each of said clamps extending parallel an adjacent portion of said rod and each of said clamps being spaced longitudinally relative to said ,rod, and another clamp attached to said rod, said last mentioned clamp extending at an angle to said oppositely disposed clamps.

2. A clamping attachment for chairs, said attachment comprising a rod, a pair of oppositely disposed clamps attached to said rod, the longitudinal axis of each of said clamps extending parallel to a part of a chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured, said clamps being spaced longitudinally a distance greater than the width of said chair part to permit entry of said chair par-t into the space between said clamps, and another clamp attached to said rod, said last mentioned clamp extending at an angle to said oppositely disposed clamps.

3. A clamping attachment for chairs, said attachment comprising a rod, 2. pair of longitudinally spaced oppositely disposed clamps attached to said rod, the longitudinal axis of each of said clamps extending parallel to a part of a chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured, said clamps being engageable with opposite surfaces of said part of said chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured to prevent lateral movement of said attachment relative to said chair, and another clamp attached to said rod, said last mentioned clamp extending at an angle to said oppositely disposed clamps and being engageable with another part of said chair to prevent vertical movement of said attachment relative to said chair in one direction.

4. A clamping attachment for chairs, said attachment comprising a rod bent to form sections conforming to the curvature of part of a chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured, a pair of longitudinally spaced oppositely disposed clamps attached to a first section of said rod, the longitudinal axis of each of said clamps extending parallel to said first section, and a clamp attached to a second section of said rod, said last mentioned clamp extending at an angle to said oppositely disposed clamps.

5. A clamping attachment for chairs, said attachment comprising a rod bent to form a plurality of sections, a tablet arm mounted on one of said sections, a longitudinally spaced oppositely disposed clamps attached to a second section of said rod, the longitudinal axis of each of said clamps extending parallel to said second section, and a clamp attached to a third section of said rod, said last mentioned clamp extending at an angle to said oppositely disposed clamps, said second and third sections of said rod extending angularly to each other and each of said clamps conforming to the curvature of a part of a chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured.

6. A clamping attachment for chairs, said attachment comprising a rod bent to form sections conforming to the curvature of part of a chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured, a pair of oppositely disposed channel-shaped clamps attached to one section of said rod, the longitudinal axis of each of said clamps extending parallel to said section and each of said clamps being in longitudinally spaced relationship relative to said rod and being shaped in cross section to fit around part of the surface of the chair part adjacent thereto, and a clamp attached to a second section of said rod, said last mentioned clamp extending at an angle to said oppositely disposed clamps and being shaped in cross section to fit around part of the surface of the chair part adjacent thereto.

7. A clamping attachment for chairs, said attachment comprising a rod, two pairs of oppositely disposed clamps attached to said rod the longitudinal axis of each of said clamps extending parallel to a part of a chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured, said pairs of clamps being positioned on opposite sides of said rod, each of said clamps being spaced longitudinally from the other clamp of its pair a distance greater than the width of said chair part to permit entry of said chair part into the space between the clamps of one of said pairs of clamps, and another clamp attached to said rod, said last mentioned clamp extending at an angle to said pairs of clamps.

8. A clamping attachment for chairs, said attachment comprising a rod, two pairs of longitudinally spaced oppositely disposed clamps attached to said rod, the longitudinal axis of each of said clamps extending parallel to a part of a chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured, said pairs of clamps being positioned on opposite sides of said rod, each pair of clamps being engageable with opposite surfaces of corresponding parts of two adjacent chairs to prevent lateral movement of K said attachment relative to saidchairs, each of said clamps being spaced longitudinally from the other clamp of its pair a distance greater than the width of said ch ir part to permit entry of said chair part into the space between the clamps of one of said pairs of clamps, and another pair of clamps attached to said rod, said last mentioned pair of clamps extending at an angle to said first mentioned pairs of clamps and being engageable with other corresponding parts of said chairs to prevent vertical movement of said attachment relative to said chairs in one direction.

9. A clamping attachment for chairs, said attachment comprising a rod bent to form a first and a second section conforming to the curvature of parts of a chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured and a third section, a tablet arm secured to said third section, two pairs of channel-shaped clamps attached to said first rod section, the open edge of one clamp of each pair facing in a direction opposite to the direction in which the open edge of the other clamp of said pair faces, the longitudinal axis of each of said clamps extending parallel to a part of said chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured, each of said clamps being spaced longitudinally from the other clamp of its pair a distance greater than the width of the chair part to which it is adapted to be secured to permit entry of said last mentioned chair part into the space between the clamps of one of said pairs of clamps, all of said clamps extending parallel to said first rod section, and a clamp attached to said second rod section, said last mentioned clamp extending at an angle to said oppositely disposed clamps and having parallel flanges spaced from opposite sides of said second rod section a distance equal to the Width of the chair part to which said last mentioned clamp is to be secured.

10. A clamping attachment for chairs, said attachment comprising a rod bent to form a first and a second section conforming to the curvature of parts of a chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured, and a third section adapted to support a tablet arm, two channel-shaped clamps attached to said first rod section, the open edges of said clamps facing in opposite directions, the longitudinal axis of each of said clamps extending parallel to a part of said chair to which said attachment is adapted to be secured, each of said clamps being spaced longitudinally from the other a distance greater than the width of the chair part to which it is adapted to be secured to permit entry of said last mentioned chair part into the space between the clamps of one of said pairs of clamps, said clamps extending parallel to said first section, and a clamp comprising an angle having one side attached to said second ,rod section and a flange spaced r '3 from one .side of said'second rod section a distance equal to the Width of the chair part to which said last mentioned clamp'is adapt'edtb be' secured.

References Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATES" PATENTS 506,085 10/93 Whelanf. 297-460 2,688,357 9/54 Towne 297248 2,895,540 7/59 Mlckintosh 297'248 2,925,123 2/60 Morgan 2 "297162 1 3,018,131 1/62 Krueg er 297248 OTHER 7 REFERENCES 1,062,407 Germany 7/59 (Printed Applicafion) FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner; 

1. A CLAMPING ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIRS, SAID ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A ROD, A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED CLAMPS ATTACHED TO SAID ROD, THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF EACH OF SAID CLAMPS EXTENDING PARALLEL AN ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID ROD AND EACH OF SAID CLAMPS BEING SPACED LONGITUDINALLY RELATIVE TO SAID ROD, AND ANOTHER CLAMP ATTACHED TO SAID ROD, SAID LAST MENTIONED CLAMP EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE TO SAID OPPOSITELY DISPOSED CLAMPS. 